The Kingdom of God...In Your Face!

The kingdom of God is NOW. Raw. Real. As Dr. Sean McDonough says, it is in your face! One of the most exciting things about life as a Christian is to see the in-breaking of the Kingdom of Heaven into time. Since I can’t write anything as compelling and intelligent and moving as Dr. McDonough, one of my favorite professors at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, I thought I would share his chapel message from last year about our limited understanding of the powerful reality of God’s Kingdom.
Click on this link to view his talk, "The Kingdom of God":  https://vimeo.com/32333683. Please don't miss this!

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Leonardo da Vinci

The topic this week for your Kingdom Bloggers is very appropriately the Kingdom of God, and more specifically, our individual favorite parable on the matter.

About a year ago, I went through Matthew Chapter 13 with my Sunday School class over a two month period. My goal for the study was to give the class the biblical perspective on the Kingdom from the very words of Christ. In preparing for the series, I discovered a few new things myself that were very enlightening (which is often the case in my preparations).

The synoptic Gospel of Matthew gives a very eloquent account of the drastic influence of the ministry of Jesus highlighted by His famous Sermon of the Mount in Chapters 5-7, where Jesus constantly gives reference to the Kingdom of Heaven. We understand that Matthew uses the phrase Kingdom of Heaven opposed to Kingdom of God because he was writing and ministering primarily to the Jews who considered the name of Yaweh too sacred to utter or write. The two are in fact synonymous.

Jesus seems to be effectively communicating His message and has much momentum in His ministry when suddenly...Jesus is accused by those pesky, trouble-making Pharisees of driving a demon out of a man in the name of Satan (Beelzebul) in Chapter 12.

After all of the wonderful things He had taught and demonstrated, the miracles, all of the compassion He had poured out during this concentrated period of time, the hurt from being accused of acting from evil and not from Good must have been devastating. An exhausted Jesus begins to teach further about the Kingdom of God using several analogies including the Parable of the Sower and the Parable of Weeds at the beginning of Chapter 13. To add insult to injury, it is at this point that even the disciples begin to question Jesus about what it all means...

I can't help but believe Jesus must have been completely dejected. How could the very men that had been by His side and ministered right along with Him not comprehend what He was talking and teaching about all that time? When I read Matthew Chapter 13, I visualize a huge sigh coming from our Savior between verses 36 and 37.

It is here where my personal favorite parable concerning the Kingdom of God comes from Jesus...

⁴⁷ “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. ⁴⁸ When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. ⁴⁹ This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous ⁵⁰ and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Simplistically brilliant for Christ to break the matter down into terms most, if not all, of His disciples could directly relate!

We have the benefit of hindsight today and the Word that frames our points of reference as Christians. Despite that fact, there still exist much confusion and dissent among followers. We often complicate and cloud the Gospel with tradition and dogma. I can't help but believe that same sigh I imagine coming from Jesus in Matthew Chapter 13 still occurs today as He prepares to return.

My point isn't to advocate a dumbing down of our doctrine...not at all. But at the same time, just how complicated is the message to begin with when our focus is directed on two primary commandments?

You can find those over in Matthew 22, by the way...

Dancing All Over the World! by Jenna Vick Silliman

What would I do if I had a FREE day, with no restrictions? This theme for Kingdom Bloggers for the week got my imagination all fired up. I like the word FREEDOM. To me, the more FREE the better. One of my favorite things is to rejoice and worship the Lord Jesus in dance. If I had no restrictions, I would have awesome, joyful, rejoicing music playing at all times and I would start my day dancing without gravity. I would boogie my way right up into the heavenlies. Whoohoo! What a gorgeous view from up there because of my unrestricted eyesight. I would see right into the supernatural realm too and enjoy the company of beautiful, multi-colored, dancing angels all around me. From my cloud-cushioned dance floor I would gaze lovingly down on my hometown of Sequim, Washington and pray and dance in intercession and take the town by storm for Jesus.

Next, because I am not restricted by space, I would jet over to Chicago to see my daughter at the University of Chicago and take her dancing with me in the heavenlies to give her a little study break. I would zip down to California next to visit my son, Michael at Simpson University to give him and his sweet girlfriend a spin in the heavenlies too.

Around mid-day I would visit Niagra Falls. Wild and free I would dance around and rejoice in the beauty of this gigantic waterfall that I’ve always wanted to see. If I had unrestricted knowledge, I would know of other waterfalls around the globe that I could also visit to take a quick peek.

Then I would be transported to Europe. I’ve always wanted to go to Europe. I could just hop around like Tinkerbell and see a bit of each country. I might dance around in a green meadow in Ireland, a vineyard in Italy, a cottage flower garden in England, and a street market in France. As someone with a heart for missions, I would be praying as I go and interceding for each place I visit. Whenever I get a chance I would share glad tidings of great joy in the abundant life of Jesus. Oh, I almost forgot—no restrictions! The,n I would have thousands upon thousands gathered in my European Tour , ready to hear my testimony of free joy in Jesus for all!

My oldest son, Daniel, and his wife, Beth are in Germany so I would have to go to Tuebingen, Germany to see them and also to Heidelberg University where Daniel is getting his PhD to become a college professor. He’s promised to take me on a tour of a couple of castles when I visit, so I’d take him up on his offer. It would be such a surprise to just show up and be so free as to be able to take them dancing in the heavenlies above Germany with me and introduce them to a few scores of really cool angels. I can just hear him and his wife saying over dinner with friends, “We had such a refreshing visit from my mother this afternoon. She is such a care-free woman. We enjoyed taking her to some typical tourist spots and then she took us dancing—it was heavenly.”

My joyful, high-spirited worship music is still playing—don’t forget! For the evening I would go surfing in Hawaii. Every once in a while I might dance around or spin a few times on the surf board. Oh my, what beautiful balance and grace I would have if I was completely free of all restrictions. When my day was over I would enjoy being back home to tell my family and friends all about my free day of dancing and rejoicing in the Lord and proclaiming Good News about the abundant life of the Kingdom of God all over the world!

Little Country Church

Any one remember the Jesus movement and it's music? If you do, you may think of Love Song.  They had a song that sums up where I want to be - Little Country Church.

No religion, not stuffy, talking about the revival and the need for love - common good - putting the past aside... I could stop here and just tell you, that's what I want.  I want to pastor that church.

As a church kid, I spent a long time agonize over the most critical question of my young life, what was God's will for my life?  If one didn't find God's will and say yes to it, your life would be unfulfilled and filled with regret.  As a teenager, I felt I was called to be a missionary.  I had never seen a woman pastor, seems that it was okay to go to deep dark Africa and shed light as a woman, but you couldn’t preach in your local pulpit.  Never did understand that, do you?  An early marriage to a man called to preach and I was on my way.  However, he turned out to be an abuser and when he beat and abandoned me with three children, I was sure that I would forever be the person known as someone who didn’t fulfill their calling.  I was divorced.  To complicate the matter, I remarried.

It took quite a few years of slithering into the church as first a single mother and then a remarried person, before I considered that Romans 11:29 God's gifts and God's call are under full warranty - never canceled, never rescinded, also included me.  While I am convinced, unfortunately a lot of my brothers and sisters in authority and in the pew, are not.

I was asked a similar question to the one your Kingdom Bloggers are answering today a couple of years ago.  I was sitting with the former worship leader of The Well, the small church I had lovingly pastored for a few years.  He said, Joyce, if you could do anything you wanted, if location, money, husband, family, history, etc., if none of it were a factor and it was only you answering, what would you want to do – how would you serve the Kingdom?

Of course, being human, there is a part of me that would like to fill large arenas and be known as Joyce Lighari, the Joyce who replaced Joyce Meyers – when people think of the preacher Joyce, they think of me, not her… Then I thought well, I can teach.  I have lots of education now.  But that wasn’t the question.  The question, like our question this week, was not what do you think people will “let” you do, or what would you settle for, it was what do you want to do for Jesus?

Over Uncle Hershel’s breakfast at Cracker Barrel, I answered him.  I said, I want to pastor a small church.  Yes, a small church!  Why? Because I want to know the sheep.  I want to journey with them through their joys and sorrows.  I wanted to marry them, welcome their babies into the church, baptize them, visit them in the hospital, and do a fitting celebration of their lives as they go home to Jesus.  I want to pastor. 

Last fall as beaming parents, my husband and I attended the White Coat Ceremony of our son.  As a first year medical student, he was donned with the garment of his calling.  The President of the Medical School made some brief remarks.  He told the student that their's was the second highest calling of humanity.  He said the first was to care for the souls of people as a Pastor.  My dream is a high calling and one that I’ve said yes to – now I sit and wait for God to fulfill His call on my life.  

We Are Family

Some of you may think that I avoided writing yesterday because David was just so good and I couldn’t top it.  Actually I thought about not writing at all for that reason J!  Seriously, I was rather busy yesterday.  Today, I’m getting ready to make and can more mango salsa and mango chutney. 

When I first heard the topic, I thought the topic was what we have learned since writing as a Kingdom Blogger.  Then I read David’s blog and thought, oh, what did we learn about each other?  Now that’s a different story. 

The KB’er I know the best is David.  He is the only one I’ve met in person.  Like he said, we went to Norway on a mission trip together.  I don’t even remember the names of most of the people I went on that trip with but David stood out then and stands above now.  I think if there is one word I’d use for him, it would be faithful.  I know bits and pieces of his life through his blogs.  What I see is a man faithful to the call of God, faithful to his family – a guy that goes on lots of date nights with his wife.  He is a father devoted to his children.  He is also the glue that keeps us together on KB.  He tries at times because of busyness and life to pass the torch of leadership on KB to others.  We try to pick it up but often fail miserably. 

I don’t know Tracy or Tony that well.  I know them only through their writings and our brief exchanges by email.  But I pray for them.  I’ve shed some tears of late as I’ve stormed heaven for David.  I’d do the same for them.  I love them like family.  I hope to meet Tony since we live in the same state now.  I know they pray for me.  They both encourage me.

The thing I’ve learned since writing for KB is that I can write and I enjoy it.  But the most important thing I’ve learned from KB is that the Kingdom of God can and does operate here.  We are family.  We love each other.  We share our lives here in a way that is more intimate that most of us can or do at church on Sunday. 

Tertullian, a father of the church, quoted a pagan who spoke of Christians saying “look how they love one another.”  That’s how it is on the other side of KB – the side you the reader doesn’t see – we love one another.

We all seem to live by Romans 12:10 Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.  (The Message)

What Matters

But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. Was anyone called while a Democrat? Let him not become a Republican. Was anyone called while Republican? Let him not be Democrat.   Democrats are nothing and Republicans are nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.  1 Corinthians 7:17-19(Kinda)

Jesus ain't a Democrat and He ain't a Republican. 

He is the Son of God!

His Kingdom is greater than the United States.

He is the King of Kings!

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

John 18:36

Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father,

when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

1 Corinthians 15:24

The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies,

making them a footstool under your feet.”

Psalm 110:1

A Thousand Years

Bethany Lighari is joining us today as a guest blogger. Her gift is poetry. She will be joining us on Saturdays from time to time. 


Living in Tennessee she is a follower of Jesus Christ, a mother, a student,  and Joyce's daughter. She is a new blogger. Visit her blog at Lessons, Trials and Miracles

Is God's kingdom a beautiful forever?
Only to be seen when soul and body sever
When souls leave earth to become anew
And slip to heavens gates and ushered through
There singing God's praise for a thousand years
A radiating perfect God wipes all of our tears


Is God's kingdom seen in His smallest creation?
A tiny beating heart in mothers womb, her hearts elation?
God knitting in mothers womb, His promise of life
All the days ordained, yet even moments of strife
A new life God loves yet a mother would scorn
As He protects and nurtures a blessing is born


God's kingdom demonstrated with a life of servitude and praise 
When man lives to love Him all of his meager days
As God's creation tells of His amazing love
God inscribes names in the Book of Life above
Miracles occur and account of His glory
God's wonder shown in each life's story


God's kingdom was indeed not of this earth
And not on the cross with His last breath
King of the Jews inscribed as He waited to die
While few loyal below did lament and cry
His kingdom touches all above and below
It touches the sun rising and setting on the horizon
Even as night's death gives way to sun rising
A broken curse of death and sin
God's kingdom is also found there within


God's kingdom hopes not a soul should perish
Each one loved, each heart He does cherish
What is that one thing? That one lost sheep
That He holds close to His heart He does keep
Indeed God's kingdom touches all
Yet God desires not one should fall
It touches hearts and brings the lost home
Each one lost sheep nevermore should roam
Safe in God's arms at home with a King
A thousand more years His praises to sing

Taste and See!

Gee – thanks David! You don’t make it easy for the rest of us to come behind you. Nonetheless, I’ll give it my best shot.

David mentioned a controversy about the Holy Spirit in his blog yesterday. Today, with much fear and trepidation, I want to comment on the perhaps one of the most controversial areas in all of Christendom, Eucharist, Holy Communion, The Lord’s Supper or whatever other term you use for it.

I’ve mentioned many times before, or if you read my blog Sounds of Hope, you’ve heard me talk about the church I grew up in, Salem Gospel Tabernacle.  To say that I love and highly esteem my childhood spiritual experience is an understatement. Equally understated is to say I was blessed.

Nevertheless, I used to envy my Catholic friends who got that white dress and looked like brides when they made their first Holy Communion. When I was a very small child, I never saw communion in our church. It was reserved for the monthly Tuesday night business meeting. Weekly the saints would gather for prayer on Tuesday and then once a month, they would have communion together during their prayer/business meetings. 

They strictly adhered to “closed communion.” If you weren’t a member, you couldn’t partake of the Lord’s Supper. Baptism by immersion was required for membership. Once baptized, you were a member of the church. The two went hand in hand. The elders and pastor would meet to discuss whether you were old enough to thoroughly understand and were in a position to become a voting member of the church. They were strict to say the least.

Somewhere in my early childhood, they decided to do communion on Sunday morning. I think it was because too many people were unable to come on Tuesday evening.  At the conclusion of the service, at the last hymn, Pastor would announce anyone who was not a member was free to leave the service. There was one woman who was so faithful to the church but could not become a member of the church I think because she was divorced. I always thought that was sad because this same woman moved in the spiritual gifts in the service. Even as a child I wondered how she could be excluded from membership but yet God seemed to approve of her.  When the announcement was made, I would see her scurry for the back door.

My mother always brought cookies to keep me quiet in church. It was a very necessary bribery. I saved two of my cookies on the Sunday there was Communion. When Pastor would say “Let us all eat together” I would put the first cookie in my mouth and chew. Then when he would say “Let us all drink together” I would put the second cookie in my mouth and try not to chew too noticeably.  I noticed a heaviness settle over the group as they started communion. One of the elders would start a spontaneous hymn. Then the feeling in the sanctuary would change drastically as Communion was over. I always felt like we were aware of our need for the Savior as we started Communion and were relieved of our guilt by the end.

I’ve been learning a lot about Eucharist. I have been learning the terms transubstantiation and consubstantiation.  I’ve been learning that Eucharist is much more than a memorial or symbolic. I am still unsure of exactly what it is but I know it is important to understand and participate in the Lord’s Table. I know Christ is present when we do in some mysterious way that is bigger than what I can understand.

One of my classmates in theology has put it very well:

What matters is that in communion we both give and receive from God, we both speak and are spoken to by God, we both taste and see God as well as God sees us and in a figurative way taste us, i.e He gets a sense of what we are like as we approach and partake of the table. "Taste the Lord and see that He is good" we are told.

For me communion entails far more than I could say here. For communion is where we meet God, were we receive His grace.  If the church [Kingdom] is not communion, than what is the church, other than a meeting place, not unlike the Eagles? But the church is the body of Christ in which the world is given the opportunity to take part. Taste and see that the Lord is good!

Another mentioned that Wesley saw Eucharist as a converting sacrament.

Kingdom dwellers need to partake of the table of the Lord, the thanksgiving feast and share it with the world for which Christ died. Communion is a big deal in the Kingdom. What does it mean to you?

Our text for this morning is Romans 14:17

I have a professor this semester who is Russian, from Russia. He has a strong accent. He even shares the first name Vladimir with Mr. Putin, the Prime Minister of Russia. I wonder if Vladimir was the number one baby name for boys born in Russian about 35-40 years ago. Vladimir teaches my Christian Heritage class. We have been studying the reformation and all the mess in Europe during that period.

I like people with accents. I am actually drawn to them because I grew up hearing more people with an accent than without. It is a wonder I have learned to speak English without one. I was listening to Vladimir one day and he was talking about the mieeDdle ages. I wish you could hear him say Middle Ages.

As the lecture goes on something like this:

If you vere to get in a time machine and ask someone if they lived in the MieeDle Ages, they vould say ya, sure, I know this.

Den you vould say, how you know you live in Mieedle Ages? They vould say because I live in the time beeetwen the birth of Christ and his coming again. Ya sure ve all live in MieeDle Ages.

Now my point is certainly not to make fun of the accent. I have already said I love accents. I think they add richness to the ear like a symphony. They dance over the hairs in your ears vibrating a new arrangement of sound, understandable but yet different than the mundane sound of the same words.

The point is that we live in the Middle Ages still. We live in the period between the First and Second Advent. We live in the time where the Kingdom has come and is not yet fully come. We live in a great paradox.  

My fellow writers have been quite good this week. They have shared personal stories and analogies about the Kingdom. Now here I am with theological talk. I guess that’s what happens when you are in school all the time. I wish I had something more entertaining to say.

Nonetheless, I think we have lost a sense of the Kingdom as the eternal reign of Christ on earth as something that is here and now.  I might step on some toes. My words may not delightfully dance over the hairs in your ears.

If the Kingdom is here and has already begun, if we live in the Middle Ages of eternal time, then our focus, our loyalties, our devotion, our everything are wrapped up in our citizenship in THIS Kingdom. The first Christians, before Christianity became the official religion of Rome and was favored, saw themselves as no longer part of this world, this system. They saw themselves as citizens of the Kingdom of God. They grasped what Ancient Israel had not, that there is only one King. That King is the Lord God Almighty.

For them time was suspended. They already lived in eternal time. They saw that they represent the Kingdom of God on earth. As the hands, feet and even mouthpiece of the resurrected Jesus they were known for hospitality to strangers in their midst. They were known to show Christ’s love even at risk of death.

When I was a kid, an expression was used sometime about people. They would say the person was so heavenly minded they were no earthly good. I didn’t like that even as a kid. I didn’t understand how you could be so much a part of the Kingdom of God and a representative of the Heavenly Kingdom where God’s reign is eternal and not be good on earth.

The Kingdom of God is righteousness – a right relationship with God and others, ALL others. Remember that song:

red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.

The Kingdom of God is peace. Not a superficial peace or even a political peace but a peace that is a deep settled-ness, that “peace that passes understanding.” It is being an agent of peace everywhere you go.

The Kingdom of God is joy. Joy doesn’t come because of circumstances. It comes because you know where you citizenship is, you know you are citizen of heaven, you are part of Christ’s body.

The Kingdom of God comes most near when you give a cup of water in His name, you clothe the naked, you visit the prisoners, and you show God’s peace. The Kingdom of God is living with Christ as your King and your allegiance to Him and His Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is most near when you reach out to those in need as Jesus did. 

Who can you find to bless, help, restore, bring deliverance and healing to this weekend?

Play Ball

I read one time that 'An analogy of God is like viewing the Grand Canyon through an empty toilet paper roll in the rain', or something along those lines.  I gotta agree, because if a person keeps breaking down an analogy of The Infinite, Holy God, eventually it will fall apart. So please keep that in mind as you read this entry.

Monday, was opening day in baseball.  I have followed the sport distantly since the strike in '94.  There have been historical moments that drew back in, as well as the Twins and Cardinals doing well.  But my enthusiasm for baseball is nothing compared to my passion for football and MMA.

Anyways, think of the Kingdom of God as the World Series. Only two teams get to play in the series. Two teams that have met the qualifications that is required. Each team had to win its league and prior to that each team had to earn a spot in the playoffs. All 30 teams start the season with the goal of winning the World Series. All believers in Christ want to inherit the Kingdom of God.

Imagine the opening day of baseball as Salvation. On opening day, every team begins with a fresh start. Some have more going for them than others because of a higher payroll or better players, but all begin the exact same, 0-0. Just like the believer that has confessed Jesus as Lord, (Romans 10.9-10) every person starts with a clean record.

As the season progresses, some teams excel and others fail. This is sorta like people’s faith. Some grow stronger, get better in their Faith and others, and just fall behind. Does Major League Baseball eliminate teams from baseball because of horrible play or bad management? Nope! And Salvation is similar, once a person has it, God ain’t taking it away. (2 Corinthians 1.22)

Just like with the Kingdom in which not everyone gets in, every team that in MLB will not get to the playoffs. The teams that do get to play for the league pennant have met the qualifications. They have persisted when others have quit, they have overcome adversity from outside and from within and they have earned their spot in the playoffs.

So, after being Justified by Faith (Ephesians 2.8-9) in Christ, what initially qualifies a believer for the Kingdom? Baptisms! Water and Spirit. (John 3.5) If you have one without the other, it’s like tying for the division lead, but losing a tie breaker. Or its like getting swept in the divisional round of the playoffs. You aint qualified for the Kingdom without the Baptisms.


Are those the only requirements? Nope, just like getting in the playoffs doesn’t mean that team will be playing in the World Series. Those that will inherit the Kingdom, have played by the rules (Mark 12.30-31) and have been victorious when it mattered most. The teams that do the best in the League Championship Series, no matter how convincingly or pathetically they did it, they are the ones playing in the World Series.

Think about this, before you dismiss this analogy because it seems too simple. If a person plays by the rules (Micah 6.8) wouldn’t they do the things (Romans 12.2, Colossians 3.1-10, James 1.27, 1 Timothy 6.11-12) to qualify and NOT do the things that would disqualify (1 Corinthians 6.9-10, Galatians 5.19-21, Ephesians 5.5) them from the Kingdom? Choosing to play by Holy Spirit's rules and not our own is what Paul referenced as being Sanctified (1 Corinthians 1.30) or living with Self Control (Acts 24.25).

And ultimately, Faith is not about rules, it is about love.  A love for God and for others that compels us to sacrifice wants and needs for the blessing of others. (Romans 12.9-13) Unlike, the World Series, no one knows for sure who will inherit the Kingdom and who won't. Yes, we know that the Minnesota Vikings (football), Detroit Red Wings (hockey), Ben Henderson (mixed martial arts) and the Iowa Hawkeyes (college athletics) will  never play in the World Series because they don't play Major League baseball.  Just the same with those that choose not play God's game of Eternity. It is obvious that some will never Inherit the Kingdom because of the evidence of their lifestyles. 

But too many times, believers get caught up in what everyone else is doing and they ignore what Holy Spirit is leading them to do. Too many times, people get caught off base, or they never take the bat off their shoulder or they get injured and choose to quit.  Some people get so caught up in the rules (written and unwritten), the 'integrity of the game', or the drama outside of the game that they don't play up to their potential.  Some people don't even hear the umpire yell, "Play ball!"

What about you? Are you ready to play ball?
Or are you stuck holding a wet, empty toilet paper roll?

The Kingdom of God is way much better than DisneyWorld...

What a week of posts on Kingdom Bloggers! It is a huge blessing and honor to be a part of God's work...even if it is just the smallest of parts. My heart is filled with joy and hope...my soul is warmed by His love.

There was a time in my life when the concept of our worldly home being destroyed caused anxiety in me. I didn't understand, either through ignorance or apathy, that this physical world was never intended to be an eternal place...much like my physical body was never intended to be eternal either. I questioned why God would create such a magnificent place, give us a taste, and then take it all away. My questions were lined, even padded, with arrogance and pride from being educated in important secular matters.

Today, the Kingdom of God is a much clearer picture for me. Obviously, I don't and can't fully understand the majesty of God's Kingdom, but my focus and priorities are much more focused on what role God wants me to play...no matter how big or how small that role may be. God rules eternally sovereign over all things in Heaven and on Earth (Psalms 103:19). My praise and worship for Him will ring forever more yet will still never come close to measuring up to the honor He deserves from me for the opportunity to be a part of His Kingdom.

Christ teaches in John 3:5-7 that a man must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God. I've stood in the shoes of ignorance Nicodemus found himself that day in the presence of Jesus. But also like Nicodemus, my desire is to better understand and share the words of a Savior who made possible a rebirth through the Spirit. Hallelujah!

The songs we sing of a place where the streets are made of gold have little value to me personally. To finally bow in the presence of God who is sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient and the ruler over all holds vast more significance than all the gold and jewels that could ever be accumulated. His Kingdom always has been and always will be...but to have that single moment in His presence deserves my unceasing obedience until my last breath is drawn.

Please don't go another day not being an eternal part of God's Kingdom. If you need to know how a personal relationship with a living Savior can make that difference, contact any of the Kingdom Bloggers through our personal blogs listed on this page or email me at tonyctoday@yahoo.com.

As one of my favorite gospel songs proclaims...On this glory road I'm traveling, many times I stumble on my way. But praise the Lord I'll soon be leaving, to that land of perfect peace and endless day. Praise God!

The Kingdom of God is here and now...

The Kingdom of God is here and now... I've said that to myself now about 5 times... Every time I say it the more excited I become...

My name is Michelle, my blog style is probably very different from the others written on this page... It is a bit intimidating being among such awesome inspiration and revelation... However, I'm up for the challenge... After all,The Kingdom of God is here and now!!!

What an awesome time in history this is for the sons and daughters of God. The spiritual realm and physical realm is under such distress and we as the body of believers have a front row seat... I come to you today with a word of encouragement !!! Remain faithful and do not become weary in well doing... Saints of God, this is the season for the harvest...This is the time for the body of believers to put into practice what Jesus spoke in Luke 4:18-19(nkjv)...

"The spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor;He has sent Me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

All I can say is WOW!! We are placed strategically in our cities , towns, jobs, etc..for this very reason. Jesus has prepared the way and sent us to the people that need to hear the good news. At the time of our salvation saints, we received the awesome gift of eternal life and a life time partner and guide... "The Holy Spirit!". Because The Spirit of the Lord is upon every believer you are anointed!!! You/we were recruited into the service of the Lord. The Kingdom of God is here and now. So, my question is this: Saints what are we waiting for? There are people dying with out Christ, there are needs all around us. It's our responsibility to disarm the spirit of infliction, poverty and wickedness. Jesus never said it was going to be easy. You're going to be considered odd, different... So what!!Leave your reputation behind!!!Saints we need to call things as if they were!! People may ask you, "Who do you think you are??" Your response will be a son/ daughter of The Living God!!

With the kingdom ever present all that's done in the name of the Lord is for the building up of His kingdom. Our purposes are becoming greater in these days, I sense in my spirit the urgency of the Fathers cries for sincerity in His servants, for a fresh passion ignited by the realization of His cross and his inevitable return.There is much to accomplish in our short visit here on earth with not much time to waste. All this laboring we are doing over the Saints, and all of our own personal struggles are for God's purposes, and the purpose of the building up of His Kingdom.

So rise up!! All this "stuff" we are dealing with is for something!! Hooray!!

The Kingdom of God Is?

The word "kingdom" conjures up the image of a castle overlooking a sprawling landscape; distant peasant homes; smoke curling above the chimneys and horse drawn carts full of hay. The King, standing on his balcony surveying a pastoral scene unfolding with lush green forests, sculptured hills, and a courtyard of cheering subjects. These are the elements of a full-length Disney feature.

Until the oppressor of our soul is bound and then tossed into the lake of fire, our glorious kingdom suffers violent attacks. Like the medieval infantry using catapults and flaming arrows, the battlefield engulfs the peaceful citizens, engaging them in a fight against evil - Christians at war.

As you survey your personal hamlet in the King's eventual domain, maybe you see injustice and evil. It tugs at your heart because you have a "mission" in God's kingdom; one for which he gifts you, calls you and prepares you - that is if you are willing to count the cost and be molded on the potter's wheel.

As a short-term missionary, I have seen some very profane recesses of our earthly home. The most disturbing to date, were the slums of Londrina in Southern Brazil.

The last time two times I was there, my team visited churches that held meetings in these slums - or should I say, sprawls of lean-tos, cardboard boxes and tin shacks on the outskirts of town.


It was there that we met Joséanna, just 19-years-old. Her father had abandon her and her mother for a life in another city. She hadn't seen him in about seven years. Her mother had become accustom to the way of life in these difficult and dangerous surroundings - but longed to be with her family up north.


My friend Pastor Erinaldo invited "José" to come and stay at his home while her mother went to see if she could find work up north where it was warmer.


Joséanna (that's her in the blue dress on the right) quickly fell into family life in the little apartment over Poco de Agua Viva Igreja (Fountain of Living Water Church). She was polite and happy. She helped serve meals, walk the dogs and ate whenever there was food offered.


A few days after I had arrived, I felt like we should get her some clothes so that she could look for a job. The pastor and his ever present clan (pictured above) took us to the mall which took two trips in his Ford KA. There we bought her an outfit, perfume, and make up. She cried as the ladies brought different outfits to dressing room.


After we returned to the pastor's house, we sat around talking about Jesus, our families, life in America and I learning Portuguese. I excused myself to prepare for my evening sermon (HERE is that story). As I passed Joséanna's room, through the crack in a slightly opened door, she knelt there on the quarry tiles, sobbing and almost whispering, "gloria deus - obrigado senhor - obrigado pi." She was thanking her Father, and giving glory to her Lord and Savior.


Later that evening, I was standing on the platform during worship. There she was in the front row - her eyes closed and her hands extended towards heaven. At first she simply sang the words in Portuguese. Then an amazing thing happened. She began to praise God, but this time in English; a language she did not know. I will never forget her words that night.


She sang, "Lord Jesus, you are great and mighty, you have not for gotten your daughter and left her to die. Lord Jesus you are great and mighty - Lord Jesus you are great and mighty and your Kingdom has come."

White Picket Fence

The kingdom of God is like…. So many parables come to mind if you are familiar with the scripture. Jesus says the kingdom is a farmer sowing seed, a man hunting treasure, a woman kneading dough, fishermen casting a net, a man forgiven a debt, a wedding guest who forgot his jacket, virgins waiting for a bridegroom, a landowner being generous. It is like seed, yeast, pearl, fish, banquet, vineyard; it all seems so random and unconnected. I used to sing a song about how the kingdom is not about food but righteousness, peace and joy. Perhaps this is why the disciples were always so confused.

I have a story about the kingdom of God. I think the kingdom is a bit like the story in Shriek where all the “unusual” come to Shriek. Or maybe it is like that old Christmas classic, about the misfit toys that save Christmas. There was a little church in Pegram TN that felt that it was a bit like the land of misfit toys. We all were hurt and wounded but we came together and advance the kingdom with love and care.

One of the ways we did this was to give free breakfasts. As Pastor, my theology said that we were supposed to feed the hungry. However, it didn’t say that we were supposed to only feed those that had no food – it just said feed the hungry. Every Sunday morning I made waffles. We fed some of the top songwriters in Nashville and we fed a man on a bicycle who had slept in the park all for free, just to show love.

But I see the kingdom of God as a white picket fence. No I am not thinking about a house in the country with a white picket fence where life is idyllic. I am thinking about a time I was given direction.

My daughter was working on a project for school and was at a friend’s house. I didn’t know where this girl lived. We were new to the area living on a farm on a narrow winding Tennessee road. The girl lived about 20 miles away. I got on the phone with the mother who was going to give me directions.

She said go to the school, and then drive past it. Okay, that was easy. I knew how to do that. Then she said go past the grocery store and turn left on Merrylog Lane. Up until this point, I sort of knew where she meant. She continued, at the end of Merrylog turn left. After that she didn’t know the names of the streets but told me to continue until I came to the white picket fence. After that, turn right. From there it was the third road, turn left, last house on the right and a description of the trim.

The white picket fence concerned me. I pictured a small house with a few feet of white picket fence. Maybe it was short as well. I was so afraid I’d miss it. I worried the whole way. I was so afraid I’d miss that fence. I was so afraid if I missed that fence I’d miss the turn and be hopelessly lost.

When I got to the fence it was so obvious. A beautiful four-foot high white picket fence; it went on for probably a quarter mile. It would be impossible to miss it. I turned right after the fence and found the house with no difficulty.

We live in the time of the kingdom has come and yet has not been fully realized. We travel along with directions that God has given us to reach our destination. We look for the full realization of the kingdom of God. In those directions are things like the white picket fence. Something we think we’ll miss. Something we think we may not see and yet when we get there it is as obvious as that fence was to me that day.

The kingdom of God is like a white picket fence. It seems like on the journey of the kingdom of God we will get lost. We may never find where we are supposed to go. But the white picket fences are obvious. We will reach our destination.

The Kingdom of God is . . . The Best Fruit

"Brother, I see you reaching way up for the fruit at the top of the tree - but Jesus said the Kingdom of God is at hand!"

That was part of the word spoken over me by Brother Arrowwood in 1997. At the time I was diligently working to find acceptance in some sort of full-time ministry. Though he'd never met me, he knew what God was saying. I WAS overlooking the small opportunities to minister, and serve my local church and community; all in hopes of getting something big.

Both Jesus and John the Baptist said that the "Kingdom of God is at hand." (Matthew 3:1-3, Matthew 4:17) This week your faithful Kingdom Bloggers will talk about what the Kingdom of God is to them, and why you don't want to miss it!

So what is the Kingdom of God really? It is the spiritual reality that we can access all the power and glory of our heavenly home, right here, right now, and without any conditions other than faith in Jesus.

The kingdom, like our salvation, is "now" (at hand), still being "delivered on a daily basis" (new mercies, gifts, answered prayers), and "not yet;" as an eternal end point. How can it be now, continually on tap, and eternal? I don't exactly know - it's a little over my head.

The real questions are, what is the Kingdom in terms of you and me right now? How do we go about the daily business of work or school, and touch Heaven too?

For me, the Kingdom is an awareness of His presence at all times. It is usually an unseen world that is as alive and active as Times Square on New Year's Eve! It is a realm, not something with an earthly time and place; yet it is as tangible as the computer screen you are looking at right now. It is filled with power and healing and mercy and grace and love and light and His glory! (Sorry, I got a little excited)

Many years ago I read The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Laurence. He found the kingdom in his everyday chores as a monk. I later read Watchman Nee's Release of the Spirit where many of his followers would wait for meeting after meeting to experience God. Nee, however; found the presence of God; His Kingdom, was ever present. Nee was an amazing man. It was rumored that the Chinese cut out his tongue so that he could no longer speak of the Kingdom.

It was in reading those two books that I began to pray and actively look for the Kingdom of God. If the Kingdom of God is at hand, then I should be able to grasp it, right?

At first I suppose seeing the Kingdom was like a cat trying to catch a moving flashlight beam - he is never quite sure where it goes when he pounces on it. He is only certain when it is near. It was the same with me. I knew when the Kingdom was near, but I wasn't always sure when I had apprehended it.

Eventually, I would see it in my spirit during prayer, and I could eventually see the realm that surrounded believers - a prophetic sense. And one evening, angels. You don't forget something like that.

The Kingdom of God according to Jesus, is a place, is like a field where seed is scattered and it grows. The Kingdom is growing, alive and fertile. He said it was like a mustard seed, and the yeast that is used in bread, as well as a treasure. (MORE) According to Jesus, it even suffers violence. (Matthew 11:12)

Finally - I have decided that the Kingdom is the place; from this moment on, where everything that Jesus is, said, did, and will do, happens. As a child of the King, I get to see it, participate in it, and enjoy Him in it. HERE is a list to stir up the kingdom in your life.

Jesus said, "I do what I see the Father doing." That is the Kingdom of God Here here on earth. It is touching the spiritual realm, and like a turnbuckle, pulling the power of Heaven closer to our daily lives.

More on the theological Kingdom HERE.